Improvement in car-couplings



R. G. RANKIN. Car-Coupling.

No. 196,539 Patented oct. 30, 1877'.

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, STATE-S RoBERTe Rankin, `0E -wAvERLY, MARYLAND, Assiri-:NOR vor ONEHALF y His RIGHT 'roJoHNs GREEN, or sAME PLAGE.

lIMPROVEM ENT IN cAR-CouPLiNe-s.

i Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 196,539, dated, October 30,1877; applicationled March 17, 1877.

`To all whom it may concern:

Re it known um I, ROBERT G. RANRIN, M.

D., of Waverly, in the county of Baltimore ployed to adapt the ordinary draw-head for use with my coupling-link; and Fig. 4 is a transverse section of one of the draw-heads of the coupling-link.

Similar letters of reference in the accompanying drawings denote the same parts.

My invention has for its object to improve the means for coupling and uncoupljng railroad-cars, whereby these operations are 'simplified and facilitated 5 and to this end the invention consists, first, in an arrow -headed coupling-link weighted upon one side between the heads, and so constructed that when the heads are inserted within the mouth of a drawhead they, together with the link, turn automatically to permit the passage of the arrowheads completely therein, when the weight automatically turns the link back again, so that its shoulders shall stand behind the upper and lower edges of the draw-head mouth, and thereby form the coupling.

It further consists in the construction of the draw-head for use with the weighted couplinglink, and in the means for adapting the ordinary draw-head to a like use.

In the accompanying drawings, A is the coupling-link, composed of a metal bar having an arrow-head, B, at each end, and a weight, C, upon one side between the heads. These parts may all be cast in one piece, with a loop or handle, D, upon the upper side of the bar, by which the link can be handled, or suspended from a hook or pin in the side of the car. The weight is so applied as to hold the arrow-heads up edgewise, as shown in Fig. l, in which position theyare designed to work purpose of guiding the coupling-link in the center of draw-head. This edge, together with the opposite one, h, above it, form shoulders to catch against the shoulders 'of the arrowheads, and form the coupling', as shown in Fi g.' l. The inner side walls of the draw-head iucline outward to the ends of the mouth, being practically iush therewith, to prevent the shoulders of the arrow-heads, when turned ilatwise, from catching against such ends.

The operation of coupling is performed in the following manner: The link being heldin a horizontal position, by hand or by the drawhead of a car, the free arrow-head is directed into the draw-head of the opposite car. The beveled or inclined sides of the arrow-head, encountering the upper and lower edges g h of the mouth F, operate to turn the link so that the arrow-head shall enter the mouth flatwise, until it clears the edges g h, when the weight C turns the link back again to its working position, with the shoulders of the arrow-head behind the edges g h of the drawhead, as shown in Fig. 1, and thereby com pletin g the coupling.

-To uncouple the link it is only necessary to turn it, by hand or other means, and then withdraw it from the draw-head, as will be readily understood. p

The weight holds the coupling-link in its upright position under all the various positions of the cars when running; but should any one of the cars be tipped over, its draw-head will turn so as to release the arrow-head and uncouple the car from the train. Holes I are provided in the draw-heads for the insertion of a coupling-pin, if, for any reason, it becomes desirable or necessary to use the ordinary coupling-link.

Fig. 3 of the drawings represents the ordinary draw-head adapted for use with my improved coupling-link. This is effected by applying to the front end of such head a metal 1 come V150g;maken; substantially alsdescribe@ The arrowhead@ eoupngHnk? weighed 'Y uponV one; side' :anni provided; loQp 1017A' n f Substantially as desrbed'. i Y 

